Are you always in a rush in the morning? These copycat Perfect Bars bars will allow you to have a healthy, filling breakfast or snack on the go. Simple, adaptable, and delicious!
I love having more nuanced breakfasts, but with a toddler, doing something as simple as making toast or eating yogurt sometimes seems impossible in the morning. Here’s where breakfast bars come in. Pre-made and easy to eat…with one hand. But, said bars also need to be filling enough to be a meal replacement. I love store bought Perfect Bars because they are really filling unlike other bars, and these homemade “More Perfect” bars are just as filling!
Since these bars can be a meal replacement, they are not meant to be low calorie. They clock in around 300 calories, which is about the same (or less) as the store bought bars.
Compared to the similarly flavored store bought bars, the homemade coconut and peanut butter bars have the same amount of fiber per bar, and they have two more grams of protein. The homemade double chocolate bars have one more gram of fiber, and five more grams of protein!
The homemade coconut and peanut butter flavor has 18 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per bar; the double chocolate flavor has 19 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per bar! Unlike the store bought varieties, these bars are free from refined sugars and dairy.
Notes on the ingredients for More Perfect Bars
— Raw and unfiltered (not pasteurized) honey is used as the sweetener here because of its nutritional properties. It’s antibacterial, anti-fungal, and has lots of antioxidants. It’s still sugar, of course, but it has a lower glycemic index compared to refined sugars. To make these bars lower in sugar, some unsweetened apple sauce can be substituted for the honey!
— Only use peanut butter that’s 100% peanuts or 100% peanuts with salt. I really like to use Trader Joe’s unsalted organic peanut butter with 100% Valencia peanuts.
— These bars use egg white protein powder. Any protein powder should work, but it needs to have a good/neutral taste and texture. For example, I also use unflavored collagen to make these, but it does create a gummier texture. A trial with hemp protein powder was practically inedible, so the powder really needs to taste good (or neutral) on its own.
— The coconut and peanut butter flavor uses instant oats. To keep these bars gluten free if needed, use certified gluten free oats. The oats are really here for texture, so they can also be omitted, but the texture will be more sticky.
— The double chocolate flavor uses raw cacao powder, which has fiber, protein, magnesium, flavonoids, and antioxidants. It is less processed than ordinary cocoa powder, so a lot of the nutrients are left intact. Regular cocoa powder can be substituted, but it won’t have the same nutritional benefits and will have less protein and fiber.
These bars are also great because they are so adaptable. Different nut butters and sweeteners can be used—maple syrup and cashew butter make a rich cookie dough flavor. Add cinnamon for an aromatic flavor, or add instant coffee to make a chocolate mocha bar. Add dried fruit, chopped nuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, or sesame seeds.
MORE PERFECT BARS
Each recipe makes six bars
INGREDIENTS
COCONUT & PEANUT BUTTER BARS
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon (63 g / 9 tablespoons) egg white powder
- 3/4 cup (192 g / 12 tablespoons) peanut butter
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon (105 g / 5 tablespoons) raw honey
- pinch of sea salt
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (30 g / 6 tablespoons) instant oats
- 1 tablespoon (10 g) hemp hearts
- 1 tablespoon (5 g) shredded unsweetened coconut, for topping
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BARS
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon (63 g / 9 tablespoons) egg white powder
- 3/4 cup (192 g / 12 tablespoons) peanut butter
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon (105 g / 5 tablespoons) raw honey
- pinch of sea salt
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (36 g / 6 tablespoons) raw cacao powder
- 1 tablespoon (10 g) hemp hearts
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) dairy free mini chocolate chips or 100% cacao chips, for topping
INSTRUCTIONS
Line a 9×4 loaf pan with cling film.
Measure the honey, sea salt, and peanut butter into a medium sized mixing bowl. Place in the microwave and heat for 10 seconds (or more if the honey has crystallized) on half power. The honey should be gently heated—this will make it easier to mix everything together.
Add the egg white powder, hemp hearts, and instant oats or cacao powder, depending on the flavor being made. Mix well until combined.
Place the mixture into the lined loaf pan and press it down to make an even layer. Sprinkle with the shredded coconut or mini chocolate chips and press. Place in the freeze for 30 minutes, then cut into six bars.
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
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